20 Scholarships Close in October 2026: Who's Eligible
We counted every verified scholarship in our database with a deadline in October 2026: 20 awards, with listed maximum awards adding up to $493,000 across the 18 that publish a dollar figure.
Key numbers
- 20 scholarships close in October 2026.
- $493,000 combined listed maximum award value (18 of 20 awards publish an amount; “up to” and per-year figures counted once).
- 2 (10%) require no essay.
- 19 (95%) state no minimum GPA.
- 19 are open nationwide; 1 are limited to specific states.
- 0 are for military families or ROTC; 8 are open to trade or vocational students.
Deadlines by week
Who's eligible: grade level
An award can count in more than one row.
| Open to | Awards | Share |
|---|---|---|
| High school students | 8 | 40% |
| College students | 4 | 20% |
| Graduate students | 3 | 15% |
| Adult / returning learners | 1 | 5% |
| Trade / vocational students | 8 | 40% |
GPA requirements
| Minimum GPA | Awards | Share |
|---|---|---|
| No GPA requirement stated / explicitly none | 19 | 95% |
| Minimum GPA 2.5 or lower | 0 | 0% |
| Minimum GPA 2.6–3.0 | 1 | 5% |
| Minimum GPA above 3.0 | 0 | 0% |
Where they're open
| Location | Awards | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | 19 | 95% |
| Nevada | 1 | 5% |
The 10 largest awards closing in October 2026
- Hertz Fellowship (Fannie and John Hertz Foundation): Up to five years of support: stipend plus full tuition equivalent (valued at up to $250,000), due Oct 30, 2026
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans (Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans): Up to $90,000 over two years (tuition up to $10,000 per semester plus stipend), due Oct 29, 2026
- VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship (Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)): Up to $35,000 (national first place); state winners at least $1,000, due Oct 31, 2026
- Work Ethic Scholarship Program (mikeroweWORKS Foundation): $500–$34,000 (2026 average about $9,100), due Oct 31, 2026
- K18 Future of Hair Scholarship (Beauty Changes Lives / K18): Up to $20,000 (5 awards), due Oct 31, 2026
- Redken x Sam Villa “Elevate the Craft” Scholarship (Beauty Changes Lives / Redken): Up to $10,000 (3 awards), due Oct 31, 2026
- The Leo Passage “Dare to Lead” Student Scholarship (Beauty Changes Lives / Pivot Point International): Up to $7,500 (2 awards), due Oct 31, 2026
- “The Passion to Succeed” Cosmetology Scholarship (Beauty Changes Lives / Jerry Alexander Gorman Foundation): Up to $6,500 (2 awards), due Oct 31, 2026
- L'Occitane Foundation Employee Scholarship Program (L'Occitane Foundation (administered by Scholarship America)): $5,000, due Oct 29, 2026
- Penn Mutual Scholarship Program (The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company (administered by Scholarship America)): $2,500 to $5,000, due Oct 29, 2026
Every deadline this month
See the full, filterable list on October 2026 scholarship deadlines.
Methodology
Counts come from our database of 327 scholarships, each checked against the sponsor's official page (last full check Oct 19, 2026). Dollar totals add the largest dollar figure each sponsor lists, so they describe maximum listed awards, not money guaranteed to be paid. GPA and grade level come from each sponsor's published eligibility. This page regenerates automatically as listings are verified.